Device for use in connection with naval warfare.



Q. E. ELIA. DEVICE FOR-USE IN CONNECTION WITH NAVAL WARFARE. APPLICATIONFILED MAR. 10, 1908. 984,420.

'-----nrsk:.:: 0 0 J 0 G. E. ELIA. nBvmE Pon USE 1N CONNECTION WITHNAVAL WARMER.

y APLIOATION FILED MAB.. 10, 1908, y, n 984,420, Patented Feb. 14,`1911.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

G. E. ELIA. DEVICE POB. USE IN CONNECTION WITH NAVAL WAEFABE.

APPLIQATIDN FILED 1113.10, lso.

Patented Feb. 14, 1911. 'L1 z2 n .IC E 6 saurez-51:21:14.

Figi 144.

faggi? mi2.;

G. E. ELLA..k DEVICE FCP. USB 1N CONNECTION WITH NAVA; WARMER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 10, 1908.

Patented Feb. 14," 1911.

6 SHEETS-EH'EET 5` M: 6 MM...

p ments in or Relating to Connection with Naval lVarfare,

by means of shells Ships likeautomobile torpedo -bility of the DEVICEFOR USE .IN CONNECTION WITH NAVAL WABFABE.

GIOVANNI EMANUELE ELIVA, F LONDON, ENGLAND.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patent-ed Feb. 14.-?, 1911.

Application tiled March 10, 1908. Serial No. 420,162.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Giovanni EMAN UiiLii Ema, a subject of the King ofItaly, residing at 3 St. James Square, nue, in the county of London,England, have invented certain new and useful Improve- Devices forUse'in of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to devices for use in connection with navalWarfare.

At thepresent time there are two principal methods employed in navalWarfare for attacking the vessels of an' enemy first, fired from guns,and secondly, by means of various kinds of toi'- pedoes. Aprojectile-can only damage a part of the ship above the water line, andan automobile torpedo can only attack the ship at a single point belowthe water. Certain the Dreadnought have armor plate of such thicknessthat they are invulnerable to the shock of existingl projectiles,

'. and the submerged portion of these' vessels is divided into large.watertight compartments in such a manner that the explosion of an hasrelatively little effec't upon the ship, this action being limited to alsmall lnumber of. water-tight compartments, so that the ship retains'its power of flotation even when the compartments thus affected fillwith. water.

The devicesthat form the subject of this invention are founded uponquite a dierent princi le; The shi, instead of being attacke -at pointseit ier above or below the water line, is subjected to the action of alon linear iioating charge of explosive which becomes applied to thefront and side of the shi by the motion of the latter or if the ship isstationary .the said linear,

charge of explosive. may be placed in a suit able position relativelythereto. The said charge of explosive is adapted to extend aconsiderable distance along the sides of the shi and beneath its 4beltof un er con itions which are such that lwhen the said charge explodes,it exertsa powerful action upon a large number of, tlieships watertightcompartments, tlierel'y insuring,r the destruction of the floati'ibilityand. staship whatever' its size, whether it is a powerful cruiser, :isubmarine, a' torpedo boat, or a ship 'of any other type.

In principle, my in\'ention consists in ar- I-Iolland Park Ave the saidcable.

armor plating,`

- used with this ranging in the path of the eneinys ship or fleet, anappropriate kind of strong cable containing an explosive charge andliaving at certain points in lits length, devices that are adapted tobeoperated electrically or mechanically to detach and isolate anVappropriatelength or section of the explosive cable when a ship comesinto contact Wit-li it., the portion or section of the cable thusdetached being sufficient to etl'ect-nally einbrace the sides of theship and when exploded to destroy it more or less completely. The otheror main part of the cable remains in fighting trim, ready to destroyother ships in a similar. manner. These means of destruction cannot onlybe arranged in the path of the eiieinys ships or fleets, but also can beapplied by means of shells, against the .ships or fleets moored in aharbor o1' stationary in the open sea. The explosive cable may be laidin the water by means of a submarine or other kind of' shin.

In order that the said invention may be clearly understood and readilycarried into effect, I will now describe the same more fullywithreference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figures 1,` 2, 3 and 4represent diagraminatically in Aplan a number of ships around or in theath of which the explosive cable has been aid. Fig. 5 is a cross sectionof the aforesaid cable. sent diagrainmatically in elevation three stagesin the encounter of a shi length of lthe explosive cable. Fig. 9- is aside elevation of the ship showing the explosive cable being draggedalong by the ship near the vulnerable parts of its hull. Fig. l0 is adetail sectional elevation of one of a series of electrical devices usedtor detaching a length of the cable as aforesaid. Fig. ll is a sectionof a l'iise forming part ot Figs. `l2 and 13 illustrate diagramniatcallyiii elevation tivo stages in the operation of a' modified arrangement ofthe cable, and Fig. li shows the saine applied to the hull of a shipwhich has come iii collisioiiwitli the said cable. Figs. l5 and 16 aredetail lonlritudiiial sections of fittings form of the cable forconnecting the lengths or sections of the cable and containing explosivedevices for causing the separation of a length or section of the cableat the required parts. Fig. 1G is simil lar to Fig. 16, but shows thetwo fittings Figs. 6, 7 and 8 repreI Y separated. Figs. 17 and 1 7 aredetail sections of another device for' causing separation of the lengthsor Sections of the cable. Fig. 18 illustrates diagrammatically a cableand its accessories at four points in its length. Fig. 19 illustratesdiagrammatically in elevation another modiedarrangement of cable. Figs.20 and 21. are a longirtudinal section and cross section respectively 10of a further modified form of cable adapted to be ired by hand.

w The manner in. Which the cable would be vlaid'in the path of theships'would depend 4 .to a lange extent upon the order or forma 15tionin which the ships are steaming. In Fi 1 for instance the shi' s Nare supposed toege-navigating in single ine. In this case submarinescarrying the necessarylength of the explosive cable may be caused toplunge 20,01.' dive at the points A and B. They would 'then proceedtoward the ships and outflank them, each of the submarines leaving inthe Water (as shown by the broken lines) an exf plosive cableprovidedwith its accessories and connections and capable ot' effecting at theappropriate moment, by the operation oit' suitable contacts or'the like,the separation of certain lengths or sections of the explosive cable,all of which are capable of causing a powerful explosion. In this waythe .shlps would be surrounded by an explosive circle from which eachship would be unable to pass'without encountering on every side a cable,-which would produce an explosion or 35 explosions when the shipcollided with it.

If the ships, instead of being navigated in single file as in Fig. 1,are being navigated in several lines abreast, as shown in Fig. 2, thesubmarine in laying the explosive cable 40 will traverse the courserepresented by the broken lines. It is obvious that the number ofsubmarines employeddn laying the cable will depend upon .the velocityand the nurnber of the enemysships. It is far casier for lsubmarines tolay a cable which envelops an entire fleet than to launch a torpedoagainst a single vessel, because in order to launch a torpedo thesubmarine must see the vesseland have at least its periscope abovewater. A torpedo boat, destroyer, cruiser or mer chant vesselcan, asshown in Fig. 3, readily lay an explosivecable in the path of a navalforce and can do so far more easily and less v dangerously than byapproaching sutliciently near to a fleet to be able to launch a torpedo.It Willjbe understood that a large vessel will be able to en velop afleet beyond the horizon visible to the said fleet and thus lay anexplosive cable which the ships of the Heet must encounter before theycan leave the dan er circle thereby formed around them suc as showndiagra-mmatically at N1 in Fig. 4.

The operations which have been above def 4scribed as easy to carry outin the open sea 1 for attacking fleets, are still more easy of executionfor the'defense of ports or for the defense ol a fleet in a roadsteadf,The explosive cable,` which thus constitutes a prometing-barrier, may4be moored very readily some kilometers in front of the fleet to beprotected. It will serve to destroy torpedo boats and submarines whichmight attempt to attack the tleet protected by this barrier.

One form of the explosive cable which as above described, is intended tobe applied against the sides of a ship, when encountered by the latter,is shown in cross section in Fig. 5. C inclosing a steel cable D whichis not taut but preferably sinuous spiral or undulated c u'pies a lengthshorter by some meters than its actual length when taut or developed.The tube C is of. such a character that it can only be stretched orbroken under the influence of great strains such as those produced by aship in traversing it, this characteristic thus constituting the safetyof the system and of the cable D during the operations of mooring andtaking up. The said tube C incloses an explosive charge E which extendsthroughout its'entire length.-

I will now describe how thestriking of trically or by explosion, theseparation of a length or section of the cable, which is carried alongby the vessel, and becomes apperiod (a few seconds only) which is timeenough for the cable to become thoroughly applied to the lowervulnerable part of the s 1p.

l will refer lirst tothe arrangements for separating thecable intolengths or sections by electrical means, reference being had moreparticularly to Fig. 6. 'The cableis, provided at various points in itslength with electrical devices K, 1K1, K2, K3, K4, K", etc., havingcontacts which are arranged to permit electric currents to pass toexplosive fuses and by the explosion of the latter to produce theseparation of steel cables the ends of 'which are designated a and b onthe device K, c* and bl on K", ft2 b2 on K2 and so on in succession.Tbeends of cach of these steel cables are scparatwl by three times thespace between any two adjacent electrical' devices on the explosivecable C. In addition to the cables above mentioned -pendant cables c c1c2, etc.are suspended from the cable S which serves to join the twoouter parts of the explosive cable .whcn an inter'- mediate portion ha.,been detached from the whole, by encounter with a ship, as willherenafter be explained.

The explosive cable C is adapted to float on the water and is thus quiteinvisible at a so that when in the india' rubber tube, it octhe shipagainst the cable causes, either elec.

plied to its sides at the end of a certain` aforesaid electrical devicesand connected one with the other at the lower ends byV a It comprises anindia rubber tube electrical devices K2 and K3 as .indicated in Fig. (i,the ship will .tiret of' all cause the elongation or rupture of theindia rubber' tube U and will draw out or extend the steel cable D (Fig.5) g the pull exerted upon this cable after its extension will act uponthe two electrical devices located at K2 and K3 and lcause theircontacts to be closed, and electric current to pass to the explosivefuses,"\vliereby the latter are exploded and consequently cause therupture `of the steel l. T he ship is then accompanied (see Fig.

- S)A by a length of the explosive cable C and rby the steel cable b1 a4extending between the two devices K1 K4. On reference to Fig. 9 it willbe seen thatthe explosive cable C. becomes` applied to the front andsides oi' the ,hull of the ship as it moves forward, the

' steel cable 'ffl a* being beneath the ship, that is to say adjacent toits vulnerable part. The explosive charge (E, Fig. 5) of the cable Cexplodes a few secondsk (say ten to fifteen or more) after the ship hasstruck the cable so that the cable has' had time enough to bef corneappliedtagainstzftliev ship in. proportion as;theflatter.'.jadvanceshthe ignition .ot ,the

charge in the .eziplosive cable being produced byv a time fuse underconditions which will be hereinafter explained.'u l

Each of. the aforesaid electrical 4devices K K1 K2. etc., one' of whichis shown in detail at Fig. 10, comprises a rod G surrounded by asleeveot insulating material II fixed in position on the rod G by pins dall. The

rod Gr 4terminates in eyes to which the steel cable D of the explosivecable is secured.

Upon the sleeve l-l there are mounted conical contact pieces-c f, c flintended to come into contact with the corresponding contact piecesgflv'i j on a sleeve H1 on the one hand and g1 hl' il jon the yotherhand. The parts g It and g1 klare electricallyconnected with the polesof the"r batteries P1 lm' and the partst'" j il i1 are electricallyconnected-with the fuses or detonating devices. The bat teries'lt, P11*and sleeve H1 are secured to, the rubber tube or casing of the cable.For

-the electrica-l.devicelocated at K2 (Fig. 6) .the `fuses la (Fig. 10)correspond with the three 'steel cables c2152 o2 (Fig. 6) those at m(Fig. 10) correspond With the two cables al and V01 which terminate atK1 (Fig. (l)

I lssuning for example that the ship N eng` counters the explosive cableC between the and those at m1 m1 (Fig. l0) correspond with the cablesIl* and c* which terminate at lit (Fig. 6). J

n nl (Fig. l0) are releasing'devices between which the cable b1 c* (Fig.G) is situated and which are not influenced by the devices K2 and K3(Fig. (i).

"o 0i (Fig. i0) are releasing devices which are intluenced by thedevices Kg and K3 (.l"ig.tl) and. which cause the rupture of theexplosive cable C on theleft oi K1 and on the right of lit. .Finally Dp1 (F ig. l0) represent releasing devices with time fuses which areintended to ignite the charge of explosive in the portion or section ofthe cable (l which has been separated from the main portion ot' thecable by the collision of the ship againstit.

It will be understood that when a ship in )assino between K2 and li Fi6) encoun 2J i 1 ters the .explosive cable, the rubber tube or casing isbroken at the place of impact and the drager pully of the ship isimparted to the yielding steel cable D, this cable acts upon the rods(Fig. l0) of the electrical devices K2 and K3 (F ig. (l) and assumingwith reference to Fig. 10 that the pull on the rod (l of the device K2(F ig. is toward the rightvhand, the left hand piu d will be shearedowing to its coming into contact with the end of the` sleeve H1 whichremains lixedto the `rubber, tube or casing, and the conical Contactpieces c* )"1 will come into `contact Withthe vpieces g1 71.1 c 71; thusclosing the electric circuit through'the battery l)11 and effecting theexplosion of the fuses 7..' Il: m. m 0 p. VAt the saine time a pull-will be exerted on the rod. (ir of the electrical device K3 Fig. (l)toward the left. hand and the right hand pin nl will be shcarcd, thuscausing the conical contact .pieces c f oi .the said contactdevice K(Fig. (l) .to come against the pieces f/ la, ri j; current will then-liow from the battery 1" through the cil" cuits iiulicatcd by thedotted .linesand will `thus cause theiusee Z: Z". I.: of the device K(Fig. G) and the' fuses m* 111,1, p and o to lie-exploded. The devicesl'l2 and K (Fig. (l) `having been thus operated, `the conditions will bethose represented in Fig. 7.

In Fig. 1l I have shown iu detail one form oeXplosi-ve fus-1e suitablefor the purpose nition due to thepassage of the electric cur` abovereferred to. lt comprises a box l into lill) rent through the conductorsy and the conscqnent heating of the wire connecting' them, Athe fiangeor collar fa. is broken and the disk t expelled by the explosion so thatthe cable is disengaged.

Havingl described the method of separating a section or length of theexplosive cable by electrical means, I will now describe a' method ot'separating a section or length of the cable by explosions and ofigniting the charges contained in the explosive cable, by a flameobtained by mechanical means such as a firing. pin driven by a springTagainst a detonator by the flash of which a burning composition isignited and supplies the-Haine for exploding the cable. Such anarrangement is shown in lfigs. 1Q, 13 and 14 and in further detail inFigs. l5 to 18.

The ditferent sections or lengths of the explosive cable (each of whichis about twenty meters long) are formed or provided midway of' theirlength with a box or conipart- 'I ment l" (Fig. 12) to which there isattached i a cable such as c* c1 or 021i. These cables 01X, c2* areconnected at their lower ends by a cable S1.' The sections or lengths ofthe explosive cable are provided at their extremities with explosivedevices or fittings Z, Z1, Z2, Z3, etc. At the adjacent ends of any twosections or lengths, these fittings are connected with one another by atransverse pin X (Figs. l5 and 1G), which passes through a male andfemale interlocking part lt R1 and is held in place by a ring or link w1at one end oft' said pin and a protuherance o2 at the other end.

The fitting at any one end of a section or length of the-explosive cablelconstitutes in reality only one halt of the device; each half fittingis united symmetrically to another half fittingby fixing the tWoilinterlocking parts R R1 together by the spindle X.

Cables Y Y1 Y2 Y? Y", etc.,`(Fig. 12) are arranged in the water beneaththe explosive. cable Gand between the-explosive fittings Z Z1 f 2. When,as shown in Figs. l2 and 13 for example a ship passes betweenI Z1 andZ1, rupture of the connection between two extreme fittings Z and Z3 ofthe sections of the explosive cable taires place, as shown in Fig. 13;at the same time the cables o o1* c2 are' disconnected from those of thecompartments F that are situated between the said fittings Z and Z3. Theresult is that the ship will carry along Withit on'its front. part,

the section or length of the explosive lcable between Z1 Z2, as shown inFig. 13; the part Z 'J1 lyingr onv one side of the ship .and the part Z2Z3, lying on the other side, the steel cable Y2 coming beneath the shipin front,

f and the cables Y1 Y1 at the sides.- The. resnlt will be that the partZ1 Z2 ot the explosive cable will be immersed below the ar esc/leo shipssides below the armored part. and ',nill be kept approximatelyhorizontal b reason of the Weight of the cable Y2 whic 1 i passesbeneath the ship. This arrangement of the explosive cable in front. ofthe ship and against its sides is therefore admirably adapted to insurethe certain destruction of 'the ship when the cable explodes. If asubmarine strikes the cable Y2 thepull exerted on said cable iscommunicated to the parts.

Z1 Z2 off' the fioatingeable, so that 'the 'system acts in the same wayas if the floating cable Were encountered directly.

Each of the end fittings of a sectn of the explosive ca'ble incloses apercussion `rod G1 to which a steel. cable D 1s attached as shown inFig. l5( which represents l'the fitting, at, say, Z2. This rod G1 isconnected to a head M by means of a pin d* the said 4 headbeingfnrnishedwith a firing pin or .j striker. A spring G2 is situatedbetween the said head and the bottom of a box or casing which guides thehead and its striker. In front of the striker a recess is rovided forthe reception of a cartridge At a point directly facing'the cartridge -Vand within the adjacent half of the said fitting is arrangedy anexplosive priming a3 arranged at the extremity of a. tape fuse which inthe right hand half of the fifrure is represented by I and extends tothe dtting Z3 (Fig. 18).

The left hand half of the fitting is provided 1 with a similarpercussion rod G1 and cartridge V, and a diametrically oppositeexplosive priming wat the extremity of a fuse P1 which extends to thefitting at Z1. The cartridge V of each'half of the tting is directlyopposite the priming of the other half. The pin 'X is shown in Fig. 15as being situated diametrically in the plane-of the section, but is inreality displaced angrilarly to an extent sufficient to allow clean ancebetween the cartridge V- and primer er. When theapart Z1 Z2 of theexplosive cable is encountered by a shi i and the steel cable D ispulled, the spring G2 is compressed, and ultimately thepm lx breaksthereby allowing the striker and head M to fl forwardv and strike theAcartridge'V, whic explodes and fires the primer u acingit and belong;ing to the fase l. The tape fuse P extends alon 1 the inside of theexplosive cable to the itting Z, which, as shown in Fig. 18, islocatedat the other extremity of the Section of the cable that is to bedetached. The said tape fuse terminates in a cartridge Q similar to thatshown in Fig. 15 arranged behind a.

boxsocket R which receives a stem R1 forming part of the adjacentfitting; it isby the .engagement of the stem R1 .with the box socket Rand thepassageof the transverse pin X through both of them that theadjacent ttings o`f two sections of the exploFV sive cable areeonneetedtogether as aforesaid. The box,l socket is provided with a flange i/(Fig. and the stem R1 with a. flange y (Fig. 15). When the cartridge ,Qor Ql explodes, the flange y or y1 is sheared from the part R or R1 andthe par- 5 ticular section of the explosive cable is thu's separated at-Z3 from the main portion as shown in Fi 16a. In each section of theexplosive cab e there is thereforea tape fuse P (Fig. 18) extending fromthe primer a' of one fitting, to the cartridge Q. at the middle of thefitting at the other extremity of this section of the cable, and anothertape fuse P1 which extends from this last mentioned tting and terminatesat the median '15 cartridge Q1- of the first mentioned fitting. Finally`there is also in each section of the explosive cable anothervcentraltape. fuse T extending between the two extreme littmgs. This fuse Tterminates at the time fuse intended for igniting the explosive chargeof the cable, this time fuse being tired through the passage al whichterminatesI at the cartridge box O. These three tape fuses I P1 and T.which thus extend through the o entire length of -each section of thecable, .traverse the intermediate compartments F which support one 'ofthe vertical cables c c1x c, as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 12 and insection in Figs. 17 and 17. The three tape fuses l", I, T, Fig. 1T,ignite the. cartridges U1, U?, U3 in the compartment F and the explosionof these cartridges serves t0 expel the plugs V1. V2, V3 which arenorlmolly held by a shoulder or flange Y2. Each Voit the plugs V1, V2,V3 has its outer extremity formed with a sharp edge to effect the'rupture of or to cut through the circular copper band m2 .to which thecable c", el* or c2* is attached. Only one however, ofthe threecartridges in -any one compartment F vvis ignited,'depending upon whichsectionv of the cable is struck"by the vessel. If a ship strikes theexplosive cable between Zl and Z2 (Figs. 12 and 18),.tl1e only one ofthe three fuses P P1 T that is fired in the compart-A ment F locatedbetween Z1 and Z2 is the fuse "T, sc that the band and hence also the.cable e aredetached by means of the plug Y only. The striking of thevessel between Z and Z? also causes the ignition of the fuse P inthesection Z2 Z3 and hence the band..

.m2 and cable c2 are detached by means ci. the plu V1 in the compartmentF pertaining to t le sect-ion Z2 Z3. Similarly the ig'nitionof the,corresponding fuse P1 in the 'j compartment F of the 'section Z Z1causes the `band wz and cable c* to be detached. The

tlfigceeV plugs must be quite independent, be-V cause f orthem to be`tired simultaneoaslyv would involve the simultaneous ignition oftlle'tliree nses FP1 Tin each section of -thegcable and lthis wouldinvolve the separation of the cable at eachitting, Whereas tvhena. ship,passes between 4Zfand Z2, the'` cable should b'e-.blroken at.' Z and ZFonly.

Each ta e fuse P and'l1 in each section of the cab e is also connectedto the explosive char e of the cable by means of a time fuse E* Fig.18). Thus when the cable is struck between Z1 and Z2, the ignition ofthe fuses P and P1 in the sections Z2 Z. and Z Z1 respectively', causesthe ignition of the explosive chargesI in these sections, and theexplosive, charge in the section Z? Z2 is ignited by the time fusethrough the passage e1 Ias hereinbcfore described.

'All the explanations which have just been given in order to show howthe traction exerted4 by the cable l) at Z42 causes explosions whichproduce the rupture at Z3 of the explosive cable and the detachment ofthe pendent metal cables cl* c2", might be repeated tor explaining howthe traction exerted upon the metal Acable l) which proceeds from theship N toward Z1, gives rise to explosions which produce at Z theseparation of the sections of the lexplosive cable and detach thependent metal cable 1.-". It will thus be understood that a length ofthree sections of the cable comprised between Z and Z3 is separated fromthe rest of the explosive cable and is carried along by the ship N. itsthree explosive sections being' applied against the sides of the. shipand containing a time fuse which is already ignited and through whichthe flame is conveyedl and shortly afterward fignites the explosivechargeI located in the cable at E (Figs. 5 and 1S.) v

ln addition to the explosive charge E (Fig. 5) contained in theexplosive cable C, another explosive charge may also be provided in asecond explosive cable C1 (Fig.

'19) submerged aboutten meters in order that this charge may be.thoroughly applied beneath the ship at the. moment of detonation. The.entire system (either electrical or mechanical) remains the same; thecharge is merely tired either by an electric conductor or by a tape fusepassing through the tube ZX. The metal cables c c c cl3 suspending thecable S1 (Fig. 19) are disconnected at the points K11 K12 K13 K in asimilar manner to that already described.

In the modified arrangement of cable shown in Figs. 20 and 21 the' tubeC contains the explosive charge E, the instantaneous fuse D1 adapted tobe fired by hand, and the 'time fuses DX which are regulated say forfifty minutes. In this sim le form of the cable, one end of itwould e onboard ship or on land and the fuse D would be ignited by hand bybringing'a flame to it. It is evident that if a ship strikes this cableafter the latter has been 1n the Water fortyve minutes the ex losionwill recu1.five minutes after the cable has becomea-pplied tothe ship.,The explosive charge E may of course be suspended by vertical cablesfrom a4 floating cable, so as to be in position for Whatever the methodemployed nfor ef` fectin'g the separation of a particularlengt-h orsection of the explosive cable may be, and

Whatever may be the niethed of rupturing the pendent metal cables andexploding the charge in the length or section of the cable carried awayby the ship upon its sides, the explosive cableand its accessory partsmay be Wound upon a winch carried by the sub marine 01' other vesselentrusted With the laying of the cable in front of a naval force oroutside a port; the only operation necessary is to actuate this winch soas to lay the cable in the water or remove it therefrom.

What I claim and desire to secure bylietters Patent or' the UnitedStates is z- 1. An explosive cable tot' use in naval Warfare, comprisinga. flexible :tubular casing adapted to lie horizontally in the water,

explosive material. carried thereby, and means for igniting the saidexplosive matelial. i

An explosive calde for use in naval warfare, comprising :l flexible.tubular eas ing adapted to lie horiztmtally in the u'ater` explosive'material carried thereby, and means automatimilly actuated by thecollision of a shipWith said cable tor igniting the said explosivematerial.

3. An explosive cable for use in naval Warfare, comprising a tubularcasing adapted to lie horizontally in the Water. explosive materialcontained Within said casing,

- means carried by said cable for causing an appropriate length orsection thereof to be detached when. encountered by a ship, and

' means for causing the explosive in the atoresaid length or section ofthe cable to become ignited.

4. An explosive cable for use in naval warfare, comprising a number ofdetachable lengths or sections, of tubular casing, explosive materialcontained therein, means nf'herebynvhen the explosive cable isencountered by a ship aeertain length of the.

'detachabld sections `vill be disconnected from. the main portion, andmeans for causing the explosive in the aforesaid detached length tobecome ignited. l

5. An explosive cable for use in naval Warfare, comprising a tubularcasing, explosive materia-l carried thereby, means carried by said cablefor causing an appropriate" length or section thereof to be detachedWhen encountered by a ship, means for caiisingthe detached lengt-h 'ofthe cable to becomel applied to thefhnll of the ship beneath its armorplating. and means for causing the explosive material to become ignited.6. An explosive cable for use in naval Warfare, comprising a number ofdetachable tubular lengths or sections of iexible material,explosivematerial contained therein,

metal cables arranged extensively Within said tubular sections, meanssituated at the extremities ot'v` said metal cables whereby when theexplosive cable is encountered by a ship the consequent extension of asteel .cable suspended b its extremities to those of each ot' theaforesaid detachable lengths or sectipns of the explosive cable so as tocause the se arated lengths to be ap-4 plied to the hull below the armorplating, and means for causing the explosive material in the separatedlength of the explosive cable to become ignited.

T. An explosive cable for use in navalA warfare, comprising a flexibletube composed of detachable lengths or sections, explosive materialcontained therein, metal cables arranged extensively Within said tube,one to each detachable lengthor sect-on thereof, means situated at theextremiiies oi`- said metal cables and arranged so tt iat when a shi-pis encountered the consequent extension ot a length ot metal eab-lecauses the aforesaid meansl to separate a corresponding length of theexplosive cable, a lower anchoring cable for connecting together thevarious detachable lengths or secticns ot the explosive cable, andintermediate vertical cables for eitecting the aforesaid connection.

An explosive cable for use in naval warfare, comprising a flexible-tubecomposed et detachable lengths or sections, explosive material containedtherein, metal cables arranged exten-sibly Within said tube, one to eachdetachable length or section thereof, fittings 'at the extremities ofsaidlengths or sections for uniting them, ex-

plosive means tor separating the requisite plosive material containedtherein, metal cables arranged extensibly within said tube,

one to each elementary length thereof, titi tings at the extremities .ofsaid lengths or sections for uniting them, metal cables suspended bytheir extremities between the extremities of the said lengths orsections of the cable, explosive means for separating the requisitelength of cable from the Whole, and percussive devices for ignitingtheexplosive separating means, said devices being aetuatedtby the pullexerted on the aforesid metal cable when encountered by a s 1p.

10; An explosive cable for use innaval warfare, comprising a flexible.tube com- "lo 'the metal cable causes the separation'of aAcorresponding length of the explosive cable,

posed of detaghzle' lengths or sections, explosive matertalfcontainedtherein, metal cables arranged extensibly within said tube, one to eachlength or section thereof, fittinge at. the extremities ot said lengthsor sections for uniting them, intermediate ver- 'tioal cables, nenne forconnecting them t/o tol the explosivecable, a lower @gering cableconnected with the explosive t, `lolbby said vert-ical cables, explosivemeans fpr separatina the requisite length from the remaining portions ofthe explosive cable and from the vertical cables, and means actuated bythe pull exerted on the aforesaid metal cable when encountered by ship,forigniting the esplosive se'paratin; means.`

1], Aat'explosive cable for use in naval.

warfare. comprising a flexible tube oom-` 4posed of detachable lengthsor sections, explosive material contained therein, metal cables arrangedextensibly within rsaid tube," one toeach length or section thereof, fit

y. rtinge at the extremities of said lengths or "":sef-tlons for nnltxngthem, a striker at each exttreinity actuated by the extensible cable'when encountered by a. ship, a cartridge for explosion by said striker,1inexplosive riming Iin each fitting opposite the 'cartri ge of theadjacent iitting, aseparating cartridgeV located in each of theaforesaid fittings, a fa ie 'u conneeting'the aforesaid' priming i w1 l1the separating cartridge, so as to canse' lthe eiplosion ofthe latterand the consequent separation of the required length o'f cable at the'junction of lthe aforesaid fit tings,: and a fusefor igniting theexplosive material in @aah ma@ of the despite@ length of cable.

12. An explosive cable for use in naval warfare, comprising a flexibletube 4oomposed of detachable lengths or sections," explosive materialoontalned therein, metal cables arranged extensibly .within said tube,one to each length or section thereof, fittings at the extremities ofsaid lengths or sections for uniting them, intermediate boxes onsaid-cable, .vertical cables attached thereto, means for attachingsaidvertical I cables as aforesaid, a lower cable connected with theexplosive cable by said vertical cables, explosive means for separatingthe requisite length of explosive cable from the;

' finition of the time' fuses.

@l 'In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in .presence of two'Witnesses.

GIOVANNI EMANUELE ELIA.

Witnesses: 1 f

T. SELBY WAEDLE, WALTER J. SK'ERTEN.

